Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method comprising: for each of a plurality of subframes to be communicated using a first radio access technology, determining a first number of bits used for first feedback information corresponding to a first communication effected using the first radio access technology and a second number of bits used for second feedback information corresponding to a second communication effected using a second radio access technology; and using only the first radio access technology, communicating the plurality of subframes, wherein for each of the plurality of subframes, included in the subframe are the first feedback information using the determined first number of bits and the second feedback information using the determined second number of bits, wherein determining further comprises; determining whether the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is non-zero or is non-zero for a second pair of subframes; in response to determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is non-zero for the second of the pair of subframes, determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes is non-zero; and in response to determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is zero for the second of the pair of subframes, determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes is zero.
A method for handling feedback in a multi-radio communication system. For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication is received by using the first radio access technology, the second communication is received by using the second radio access technology, and communicating the plurality of subframes comprises transmitting the plurality of subframes.
This method involves receiving data using both a first (e.g., LTE) and second (e.g., WCDMA) radio technology, and then transmitting feedback related to both over a series of subframes. These subframes containing the combined feedback are transmitted using only the first radio access technology. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the transmitting uses a physical uplink control channel.
This builds upon the method of transmitting feedback using a first radio access technology. Specifically, the transmission of these subframes (which include feedback for both first and second radio technologies) is done using the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) of the first radio technology, and encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe. The first communication is received by using the first radio access technology, the second communication is received by using the second radio access technology, and communicating the plurality of subframes comprises transmitting the plurality of subframes.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining further comprises determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information is not zero for a first of a pair of subframes and is zero for the second of the pair of subframes, and wherein determining further comprises determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is a fixed, non-zero number for both the first and second of the pair of subframes, and wherein the method further comprises including, for the second of the pair of subframes, only the first feedback information using the determined first number of bits.
This method manages feedback for two radio technologies across subframes. For a pair of subframes, the second radio technology requires feedback in the first subframe of the pair, but *not* in the second. The first radio technology *always* requires feedback in both subframes, using a fixed number of bits. In the second subframe, only the feedback information pertaining to the first radio technology is included. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining further comprises determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information is a same number for a first of a pair of subframes and for a second of the pair of subframes, wherein determining further comprises determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is a fixed, non-zero number for both the first and second of the pair of subframes, and wherein the method further comprises including the second feedback information in the first of the pair of subframes and repeating the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes.
This method addresses a scenario where the second radio technology needs the same amount of feedback bits for both subframes in a pair. The first radio technology *always* requires a fixed, non-zero number of feedback bits in both subframes. The feedback for the second radio technology is included in the *first* subframe of the pair, and that *same* feedback is repeated in the *second* subframe. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, for each of the plurality of subframes, jointly coding the corresponding first and second feedback information and including in the subframe the jointly coded corresponding first and second feedback information.
For each subframe that carries feedback from both the first and second radio access technologies, the feedback information from the two technologies is jointly coded. This means the ACK/NACK bits for both are combined before being included in the subframe. Then included in the subframe is the jointly coded first and second feedback information. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining further comprises using a received configured signaling strategy to determine the first number of bits used for first feedback information and to determine the second number of bits used for the second feedback information.
The number of feedback bits used for both the first and second radio technologies is determined based on a signaling strategy that has been pre-configured and received. This means that the system is told how to determine the feedback bit allocation for the two technologies. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining further comprises: determining the first number of bits of the first feedback information based at least on a number of component carriers and transmission modes for each of the component carriers for the first communication effected using the first radio access technology; and determining the second number of bits of the second feedback information based on a number of component carriers and transmission modes for each of the component carriers for the second communication effected using the second radio access technology.
The method for determining the number of feedback bits for each radio technology depends on several factors. The number of bits needed for the first radio technology is based on the number of component carriers being used and the transmission modes for each carrier. Similarly, the feedback bit count for the second radio technology is based on its component carriers and transmission modes. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first radio access technology uses orthogonal frequency division multiple access for the first communication, the second radio access technology uses wideband code division multiple access for the second communication, and communicating the plurality of subframes further comprises using single carrier, frequency division multiple access of the first radio access technology to communicate the plurality of subframes.
The first radio technology uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). The second radio technology uses Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA). The subframes that contain feedback related to both technologies are communicated via Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) of the first radio technology. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component carrier of the first radio access technology is considered as a primary cell and at least one component carrier of the second radio access technology is considered as a secondary cell.
In this method, at least one component carrier of the first radio technology is treated as the primary cell, while at least one component carrier of the second radio technology is treated as the secondary cell. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
11. The method of claim 1 , where the first feedback information corresponds to acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement corresponding to the first radio access technology and the second feedback information corresponds to acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement corresponding to the second radio access technology.
The "first feedback information" discussed in the primary method is ACK/NACK for the first radio technology. The "second feedback information" is ACK/NACK for the second radio technology. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
12. The method of claim 1 , where the first radio access technology is a long term evolution radio access technology.
The "first radio technology" in the primary method is Long Term Evolution (LTE). This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling between acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement and channel quality indicator of the second radio access technology is removed when signaling acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement and channel quality indicator feedback using only the first radio access technology.
Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) for the second radio technology normally accompanies ACK/NACK. When signaling ACK/NACK and CQI using *only* the first radio technology, the link between them is removed. This means CQI can be signaled independently of the ACK/NACK, or suppressed when not needed. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
14. An apparatus comprising: at least one transceiver configured to transmit and receive using a first radio access technology and configured to receive using a second radio access technology; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: for each of a plurality of subframes to be communicated using a first radio access technology, determining a first number of bits used for first feedback information corresponding to a first communication effected using the first radio access technology and a second number of bits used for second feedback information corresponding to a second communication effected using the second radio access technology; and using only the first radio access technology, communicating the plurality of subframes, wherein for each of the plurality of subframes, included in the subframe are the first feedback information using the determined first number of bits and the second feedback information using the determined second number of bits, wherein determining further comprises: determining whether the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is non-zero or is zero for a second of a pair of subframes; in response to determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is non-zero for the second of the pair of subframes, determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes is non-zero; and in response to determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is zero for the second of the pair of subframes, determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes is zero.
An apparatus that handles feedback in a multi-radio communication system, comprising a transceiver, processor, and memory. The transceiver transmits/receives using the first radio technology (e.g., LTE) and receives using the second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). The processor, using instructions in memory, performs: For each subframe transmitted using the first radio technology, determining the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using the second radio technology. All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein determining further comprises determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information is not zero for a first of a pair of subframes and is zero for the second of the pair of subframes, and wherein determining further comprises determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is a fixed, non-zero number for both the first and second of the pair of subframes, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least including, for the second of the pair of subframes, only the first feedback information using the determined first number of bits.
This apparatus builds upon a feedback system with a transceiver, processor, and memory. For a pair of subframes, the second radio technology needs feedback in the first subframe, but *not* in the second. The first radio technology *always* requires feedback in both subframes, using a fixed number of bits. In the second subframe, only the feedback information pertaining to the first radio technology is included. This encompasses the method: For each subframe transmitted using a first radio technology (e.g., LTE), the method determines the number of bits needed for feedback (ACK/NACK) related to data sent using the first radio technology and the number of bits needed for feedback related to data sent using a second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). All subframes are communicated using only the first radio technology. For a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
16. A method comprising: transmitting a first communication effected using a first radio access technology and a second communication effected using a second radio access technology; and using only the first radio access technology, receiving a plurality of subframes, wherein for each of the plurality of subframes, included in the subframe are a first feedback information using a first number of bits and a second feedback information using a second number of bits, where the first feedback information corresponds to the first communication and the second feedback information corresponds to the second communication, and further comprising: determining whether the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is non-zero or is zero for a second of a pair of subframes; in response to determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is non-zero for the second of the pair of subframes, determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes is non-zero; and in response to determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is zero for the second of the pair of subframes, determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes is zero.
A method for receiving feedback about transmissions using two different radio technologies. Data is transmitted using both a first and a second radio access technology. Then, a series of subframes are received using *only* the first radio access technology. Each subframe contains feedback for the first radio technology (using a determined number of bits) and feedback for the second radio technology (using a determined number of bits). Specifically, for a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising, for each of the plurality of subframes, decoding jointly coded corresponding first and second feedback information to determine the first feedback information and the second feedback information per subframe, retransmitting a portion of the first communication using the first radio access technology if required by the first feedback information, and retransmitting a portion of the second communication using the second radio access technology if required by the second feedback information.
This builds upon the method of receiving combined feedback. For each received subframe, the jointly coded feedback information (ACK/NACK) is decoded to determine the feedback for both the first and second radio technologies. If the feedback indicates an error, then a portion of the original transmission from either the first or second radio is retransmitted accordingly. This encompasses the method: Data is transmitted using both a first and a second radio access technology. Then, a series of subframes are received using *only* the first radio access technology. Each subframe contains feedback for the first radio technology (using a determined number of bits) and feedback for the second radio technology (using a determined number of bits). Specifically, for a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
18. An apparatus comprising: at least one transceiver configured to transmit and receive using a first radio access technology and configured to transmit using a second radio access technology; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmitting a first communication effected using a first radio access technology and a second communication effected using a second radio access technology; and using only the first radio access technology, receiving a plurality of subframes, wherein for each of the plurality of subframes, included in the subframe are a first feedback information using a first number of bits and a second feedback information using a second number of bits, where the first feedback information corresponds to the first communication and the second feedback information corresponds to the second communication, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform: determining whether the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is non-zero or is zero for a second of a pair of subframes; in response to determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is non-zero for the second of the pair of subframes, determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes is non-zero; and in response to determining the first number of bits used for the first feedback information is zero for the second of the pair of subframes, determining the second number of bits used for the second feedback information in the second of the pair of subframes is zero.
An apparatus for receiving feedback about transmissions using two different radio technologies, comprising a transceiver, processor, and memory. The transceiver transmits/receives using the first radio technology (e.g., LTE) and transmits using the second radio technology (e.g., WCDMA). The processor, using instructions in memory, performs: Transmitting data using both first and second radio access technologies; and receiving, using *only* the first radio technology, a series of subframes. Each subframe includes first feedback information using a first number of bits and second feedback information using a second number of bits, for the first and second technologies, respectively. Specifically, for a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform for each of the plurality of subframes, decoding jointly coded corresponding first and second feedback information to determine the first feedback information and the second feedback information per subframe, retransmitting a portion of the first communication using the first radio access technology if required by the first feedback information, and retransmitting a portion of the second communication using the second radio access technology if required by the second feedback information.
This apparatus builds upon a feedback system with a transceiver, processor, and memory. For each received subframe, the jointly coded feedback information (ACK/NACK) is decoded to determine the feedback for both the first and second radio technologies. If the feedback indicates an error, then a portion of the original transmission from either the first or second radio is retransmitted accordingly. This encompasses the method: Data is transmitted using both a first and a second radio access technology; and receiving, using *only* the first radio technology, a series of subframes. Each subframe includes first feedback information using a first number of bits and second feedback information using a second number of bits, for the first and second technologies, respectively. Specifically, for a pair of subframes, if the first radio technology requires feedback in the second subframe of the pair, then the second radio technology must also provide feedback in the second subframe. If the first radio technology does *not* require feedback in the second subframe, then the second radio technology also provides zero feedback bits in that subframe.
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September 16, 2014
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